Effects of supplemental selenium in diets of Heterobranchus longifilis

The effect of selenium supplementation into diets of Heterobranchus longifilis fingerlings was investigated using a completely randomized design with triplicates in a mini-flow through experimental system. 245 fingerlings (mean wt., 1.5~c0.23g) were stocked and fed either normal (Basal) diet (Control group) or diets supplemented with 0.16, 0.24, 0.32 or 0.64 mg sodium selenite Kg-I Selenium addition to the diets and fed to the fish caused a significant increase (P<0.05) in weight gain and fingerlings growth rate was accelerated by 18-22% compared to 17-18% in the control group. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in survival rate between treatments, indicating that diets are likely to be responsible for increased survival rate, observed in fish fed diets supplemented with 0.24 and 0.32 mg Na2 Se03 5H2O kg-1 diet. Results indicated that a diet supplemented with, 0.24 and 0.32 mg of sodium selenite Kg-1 diet is important for growth and survival of H. longifilis fingerlings

Quantification of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) requirements of Heterobranchus longifilis fingerlings

A feeding experiment was conducted to quantify the minimum dietary vitamin C requirement of Heterobranchus longifilis fingerlings and the minimal dietary inclusion levels that will meet these requirements after degradation from feed processing and storage. Fish were fed a basal diet with 42.5% crude protein for a conditioning period of 2 weeks. Following conditioning, fingerlings with initial mean weight, 2.3~c0.3 g were stocked as groups of 20 fingerlings into 30 litre tanks in a mini flowthrough experimental system and fed the basal diet and experimental diets supplemented with 0, 50, 100, 150, 200, or 250 mg of L-ascorbic acid kg-1 diet obtained from TUYIL PHARM. INDUSTRIES, lIorin, included into the basal diet by replacing part of the silica component and fed to triplicate groups for 20 weeks. Fish fed the control (0 mg vitamin C kg-1) diet exhibited deficiency signs including lordosis, caudal fin deformity, skin erosion and significantly suppressed weight gain and higher condition factor. Protein efficiency ratio and specific growth rate were significantly improved with increasing levels of vitamin C up to 200mg kg-1 diet. Tissue (liver, kidney, gills and muscle) ascorbate concentration generally reflected dietary inclusion levels with the signiticant lowest level occurring in the control groups. Vitamin C analysis after feed processing revealed 18 - 21% loss. The least mean squares error regression analysis of weight gain data on inclusion level of vitamin C revealed that the minimum dietary requirement of H. longifilis is 82.2~c0.2 mg vitamin C kg-1 diet which corresponds to 100 mg of vitamin C kg-1 diet based on data from this study

Response of broilers to 3 weeks feed restriction initiated at different time periods

One hundred and forty-four Anak broilers were subjected to either ad libitum feeding or 50% ad libitum feeding for a period of 3 weeks starting from 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th or 6th week of age and then returned to ad libitum feeding to market age. Feed intake was significantly reduced (

Response of broiler to skip a day (SAD) feeding

One hundred and eighty day-old broilers were used to investigate the response of broilers to skip-a-day feeding regime. Broiler chicks were either fed ad libitium or subjected to 1,2,3,4 or 5 week skip-a-day feeding thereafter fed ad libitium to market age. Result at market age showed that feed intake was significantly reduced (P0.025) while weight gain and feed to gain ratio were not significantly affected (P>0.05, P>0.025) by skip-a-day feeding. Skip-a-day feeding did not affect mortality of broilers (P>0.05), P>0.025). Protein retention, fat retention and fibre utilization were comparable for broilers in all treatments (P>0.05, P>0.025). Abdominal fat pad was significantly reduced (

Effects of dietary ammonium sulphate (AS) on the performance and abdominal fat of broilers

Two experiments were designed to investigate the response of broilers to dietary inclusion of ammonium sulphate. In experiment 1, day old chicks were fed diets with 0,1,2 or 3 % ammonium sulphate (AS) during the starter phase (0 –4 weeks). In experiment 2, broilers chicks were raised on a standard diet from 0 – 4 weeks of age and then switched to diets with 0,1,2 or 3% ammonium sulphate during the finisher phase ( 5- 8 weeks). In experiment 1, feed intake was significantly (P0.05). however, in experiment 2, both feed intake and weight gain at market age were significantly suppressed (P0.05). Dietary ammonium sulphate did not affect broilers liveability at any of the period. Protein retention was comparable (P>0.05) while fat availability was significantly reduced (

Response of chicken broilers to early graded levels dietary protein and energy

270 day old Arbor Acre broilers of a mixed sex were used to investigate the effects of different dietary protein and energy levels on performance, nutrient absorption capability and gut morphology of broilers from 0 – 14 days of age. Birds were fed diets containing 20, 23, or 25% protein and 3000, 3200 or 3400kcal/kg metabolisable energy using a 3 x 3 factorial design from 0 – 14 days of age. From 15 – 28 days all the birds in the experimental units were fed a standard diet to investigate the residual effects of the early protein and energy levels. There were significant interactions (P&lt;0.01) between dietary protein and energy content in feed intake, weight gain and feed/gain ratio (P&lt;0.01). At 20 and 25% protein level, increase in dietary energy levels above 3200kcal/kg resulted in a significant decrease in feed intake (P&lt;0.01). At 23% protein, feed intake at 3200kcal/kg was significantly lower than those of birds fed with either 3000 or 3400kcal/kg. At 20, 23 and 25% protein levels, increase in energy content above 3000kcal/kg resulted in a significant increase in weight gain (P&lt;0.01). At 20 and 25% protein levels, increase in energy above 3000kcal/kg resulted in a significant decrease in feed to weight ratio (P&lt;0.01). Significant interaction (P&lt;0.01) also occurred on the residual effect of the dietary levels of protein and energy earlier fed to the birds on feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio. At 20% protein level, increase in energy above 3200kcal/kg resulted in a significant decrease in feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio. At 23% protein level, the feed intake and feed to gain ratio at 3400kcal/kg were significantly higher than those of birds earlier fed diets with either 3000 or 3200kcal/kg. 20% dietary protein level combined with energy content of 3400kcal/kg gave the lowest cost of feed cost/kg and cost of producing 1kg of the bird compare to dietary level of 25% protein and energy content of 3000kcal/kg which had the highest cost of feed/1kg and cost of producing 1kg of the bird. The diet of lower nutrient density (20% of protein level and 3400kcal/kg) showed a better cost – effectiveness when express as per kilogramme live weight.Keywords: Broilers, Dietary Energy and Protein, Performance, Residual Effect

Microbial modulating effect of xylanase enzyme supplemented rice husk on the gastrointestinal tract of broiler chickens

The development of antibiotics-resistance pathogens in poultry which poses threat to human health has necessitated the search for alternative to antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) to improve gut microflora in poultry diets. One of the alternatives to AGPs is probiotics which are beneficial organisms. The prebiotic potentials of enzyme supplemented high fibre feedstuffs (HFFs) are not known. This study was conducted to assess the prebiotics potential of xylanase enzyme supplemented rice husk (RH) on broiler chickens (in-vivo). The study showed that replacement of maize with RH irrespective of levels supplemented with 100ppm xylanase enzyme caused a reduction in feed intake and an increase in weight gain and better FCR. It was observed that birds fed diet with 10% RH supplemented with xylanase enzyme out-performed birds fed diets with 20 or 30% RH supplemented with xylanase enzyme and closer to the birds fed the control diet which was with better FCR. Enzyme supplementation of RH helped in increasing and improving protein, ether extract and fibre digestibilities. The identification of microbes (Fungi and Bacteria) showed that dietary levels of RH (10, 20 or 30% inclusion) with supplementation of enzyme xylanase enhanced the growth of beneficial microbes which resulted in inhibition or elimination of the opportunistic/pathogenic microbes. The result of the cost benefit analysis also showed that 10% inclusion level of RH supplemented with xylanase enzyme gave the best result of a beneficiary reduction in the cost of production with the best improved broiler performance. The use of enzymes is therefore recommended when RH are required as prebiotic source in the gut of broilers

Effects of xylanase enzyme supplemented palm kernel cake (PKC) diet on performance and nutrient retention of broiler chickens

The development of antibiotics-resistance pathogens in poultry, which poses threat to human health, has necessitated the search for alternative to antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) to improve gut microflora in poultry diets. One of the alternatives to AGPs is probiotics, which are beneficial organisms. Prebiotics, are by-products of digestion of polysaccharides which poultry do not have enzymes to digest are food for probiotics. Advent of enzymes makes this digestion possible. This study was conducted to assess the effects of xylanase enzyme supplemented of palm kernel cake (PKC) on performance of broiler chickens. One thousand, nine hundred and twenty day old broiler chicks of Arbor Acre strain were used in a completely randomized design with 4 x 2 factorial combinations. Birds were fed control diet (50%) maize in which PKC was added at 10, 20 or 30% replacing maize in the control diet. Each of the diets was administered with or without 100ppm xylanase enzyme for a period of five (5) weeks. The replacement of maize with Palm Kernel Cake irrespective of levels supplemented with 100ppm xylanase enzyme caused a reduction in feed intake and an increase in weight gain and better FCR. In all these parameters, it is observed that birds fed diet with 10% PKC supplemented with xylanase enzyme out-performed birds fed diets with 10 or 30% PKC supplemented with xylanase enzyme and closer to the birds fed the control diet which was with better FCR. It can be deduced that enzyme supplementation of PKC helped in increasing and improving protein, ether extract and fibre digestibility. The haematological and serum biochemistry were within normal range for broiler chickens. The replacement of maize with PKC irrespective of the levels with supplementation of xylanase posed no threat on the health of the birds. The result of the cost benefit analysis also showed that 10% inclusion level of PKC supplemented with xylanase enzyme gave the best result of a beneficiary reduction in the cost of production with the best improved broiler performance. Enzyme supplementation of high fibre feedstuffs (HFF) could improve growth performance, nutrient retention and fibre digestibility.Key words: prebiotics, enzymes, intestinal microflora, broiler nutrition, digestibilit